Convention Policies

You’re here to have fun. We’re here to make it possible for you to have that fun. For all that to happen, Comic-Con has a few policies that are necessary for the safety and comfort of everyone. Please comply so that you and everyone else can enjoy the convention.

These policies were updated on July 1, 2016 and are specifically for Comic-Con 2016. Please check back for updates for Comic-Con 2017 as we get closer to the event.

Airspace (Balloons, Drones, etc.)

No devices may be flown or tethered within the confines of the Exhibit Hall or at any Comic-Con function in the San Diego Convention Center and on Convention Center grounds. This includes drones, helium balloons and helium-filled products, or any lighter-than-air objects either powered or unpowered.

Badges

To help prevent scalping and counterfeit badges, Comic-Con badges are now enabled with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. At various points of entry to the San Diego Convention Center, Hall H, and the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, you will encounter gates with a large “SCAN HERE” indicator. All you need to do is tap your badge briefly to the indicator. When you do, you’ll get a green light that indicates you’ve been validated and are okay to enter. When you leave, you MUST tap your badge out so you may re-enter when you return.

It is extremely important to remember to tap your badge when you leave, or you could be denied re-entry! If you forget to tap out or if you are experience an issue with your RFID badge, please visit one of our RFID Badge Help Desks. RFID Badge Help Desks will be located in Lobby A, D, and G in the San Diego Convention Center and at Attendee Registration in the Pacific Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. If you are sent to an RFID Badge Help Desk to resolve a badging issue, you will need a photo ID to validate that you are the badge holder of record.

Always wear your badge and hang on to it! You will need your badge to attend any Comic-Con function, including all daytime and nighttime panels and events at the San Diego Convention Center, the other locations on the Comic-Con Campus (including the Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt hotels, plus the Horton Grand Theatre and the San Diego Central Library) and, of course, browsing or shopping in the Exhibit Hall. Keep your badge visible so guards do not stop you. If you’re asked to show your badge and photo ID, please do so. Badges are nontransferable. Please do not give your badge to a friend or to people outside the Convention Center when you leave Comic-Con. Security will perform random ID checks throughout the convention, so make sure the name on your badge matches your photo ID!

Code of Conduct

Attendees must respect commonsense rules for public behavior, personal interaction, common courtesy, and respect for private property. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Comic-Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership and badge of any attendee not in compliance with this policy. Persons finding themselves in a situation where they feel their safety is at risk or who become aware of an attendee not in compliance with this policy should immediately locate the nearest member of security, or staff member, so that the matter can be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Comic-Con Show Office is located in the lobby of Hall C of the San Diego Convention Center. During show hours you can always find a Comic-Con staff member or security guard at the Show Office. Please stop by there if you have any questions or concerns.

Costume Props Policy

No functional props or weapons are allowed at Comic-Con. Simulated or costume weapons are allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security and compliance with the following:

All costume props and weapons must be inspected at the Costume Props Desk, located near the outside door in the lobby of Hall E.

All costume props and weapons must conform to state and federal law.

Projectile costume props and weapons must be rendered inoperable.

Functional (real) arrows must have their tips removed and be bundled and zip-tied to a quiver.

Costume swords must be tied to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn.

Costumes featuring stilts must be approved at the Costume Props Desk.

At certain times, due to crowds and safety issues, people in oversized costumes may be asked to leave the Exhibit Hall.

After your costume props have been checked, they will be tagged by security, and you will be given a wristband to wear to designate that your props have been checked.

Security will escort you to the Costume Props Desk for inspection if your costume prop is not tagged.

If you do not want to have your costume props inspected or tagged, or if you are not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume props to Comic-Con. All costume props and weapons must be inspected at the Costume Props Desk.

Google Glass/Video Recorders/Camera Phones

Remember that recording of footage on the screens during panels is prohibited (see below: No Video or Audio Recording of Movie and TV Panels). This includes Google Glass. You cannot wear Google Glass during footage viewing in any program room. If your Google Glass is prescription, please bring a different pair of glasses to use during these times.

Also, please turn off your devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) and put them away during the screening of panel footage. Not doing so interferes with everyone’s viewing quality and causes security to think you’re recording the clip.

No Handouts

No handing out of anything—including flyers, stickers, cards, or any promotional item—is allowed in any area inside or outside the San Diego Convention Center, except from within a booth in the Exhibit Hall or when pre-approved for placement on the Freebie Tables in the Sails Pavilion.

No Hoverboards at Comic-Con

By order of the Fire Marshal, hoverboards are not allowed at Comic-Con, including all inside or outside areas of the San Diego Convention Center, and additional venues featuring Comic-Con events.

No Handcarts, Trolleys, Rolling Luggage, or Oversized Strollers in the Exhibit Hall

Please be aware that, for safety reasons, no handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage, or oversized strollers are allowed in the Exhibit Hall. Attendees found on the exhibit floor with these items will be asked to leave the Exhibit Hall.

No Live Streaming of Any Program or Event in Any Programming Room at Comic-Con

The usage of live streaming apps and software on any electronic device (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) is not allowed in any official Comic-Con program and event rooms, both onsite at the San Diego Convention Center and in other Comic-Con venues.

No Market Research at Comic-Con

Comic-Con does not allow market research, surveys, or information-gathering in any public area—indoors or outdoors—of the San Diego Convention Center, or any other venue featuring Comic-Con events.

No Paging

Please keep in mind that there will be no personal pages over the P.A. system. Set a time and place to meet with your family and friends and communicate with them via text or phone when necessary. There is also a message board available at Comic-Con in Lobby C, where you can post written messages.

No Pets Allowed

If you have pets, including iguanas, parrots, boa constrictors, or other nonhuman critters, please leave them at home. The San Diego Convention Center will not allow animals into the building except for service animals. If your service animal is not wearing any kind of ID identifying them as a service animal, you may be stopped by security. For your convenience, please stop by Disabled Services in the lobby of Hall A for Service Animal Stickers for your Comic-Con badge.

No Retail Sales Unless Exhibit Space Has Been Purchased

No retail sales are allowed anywhere in Comic-Con unless you purchased or were allocated exhibit space. This includes the Exhibit Hall, common areas such as lobbies, program rooms, and outside venues, such as the San Diego Convention Center grounds, and any venue featuring official Comic-Con events. Retail sales are strictly limited to the exhibitors in the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall. In addition, there is no solicitation of tips, fees, or donations for any reason, unless you have a booth, table, or official space allocated by Comic-Con.

No Selfie Sticks or Similar Devices at Comic-Con

Selfie sticks, GoPro poles, stilts, or any device that extends your camera or phone away from your hand or body are not allowed at Comic-Con. If you’re seen with one of these devices, you will be asked by security to put it away and not use it at Comic-Con. This includes all of the San Diego Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, programming and event rooms, etc., and on Convention Center grounds outside, and any official Comic-Con events outside the Center, including the hotels, theaters, and the Library.

No Sitting in Exhibit Hall Aisles

By order of the fire marshal, sitting in the Exhibit Hall aisles is not allowed. Lounges are located throughout the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall and near food concessions for your convenience.

No Smoking, Including E-cigarettes and Vaping Products and Devices

No smoking is allowed at any Comic-Con event at any time and in any location. No smoking at Comic-Con includes traditional cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or E-cigarettes and any vaping product or device. This policy includes the Exhibit Hall, all the Programming rooms, and event spaces at the San Diego Convention Center and additional Comic-Con venues. You are welcome to step outside the Convention Center to smoke in designated smoking areas only, but please be considerate of others when you do. This policy is in place not only for the comfort of attendees but also to comply with San Diego city ordinances prohibiting smoking at public events near any doorway, entrance, exit, or operable window. Please comply with this policy; noncompliance may result in ejection from the convention.

No Strollers Allowed in the Programming Rooms

By order of the fire marshal, strollers are not allowed in any of the programming rooms. Stroller parking is located in various areas in the San Diego Convention Center; see the map on pages 4 & 5 in the 2016 Quick Guide publication. Stroller parking will be free of charge and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: Comic-Con will not provide security or check-in/check-out for the strollers.

No Video or Audio Recording of Movie and TV Panels

No video or audio recording is allowed of the footage on the screens during movie and television panels at Comic-Con. The footage shown in these panels is exclusive, brought to Comic-Con by the studios and networks. Please respect their rights and allow us to continue to show this type of material to our attendees.

Comic-Con reserves the right to change or modify any policy or rule at any time and without notice.

Comic-Con International

2017 will be held

July 20–23

at the San Diego Convention Center

San Diego
Convention Center

Important Information Regarding Programs
and Autographs at
Comic-Con International

All event and program rooms have limited capacity as set by the Fire Marshal. Even though your badge is needed to get into all events, it does not guarantee you access to any event if it has reached its capacity. We do not clear rooms between events. Most autograph signings are of a limited nature. Your badge does not guarantee autographs at any event.

Mission Statement

Comic-Con International: San Diego is a nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.